Washing machine provided with flexible seal



Aug. 5, 1952 T. R. SMITH 2,605,628

WASHING MACHINE PROVIDED WITH FLEXIBLE SEAL Original Filed Dec. 20, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 334 34/0 fizz/ezzfar: 3/5 J24 .536 .556 BY 172419]? 51724272 Patented Aug. 5, 1952 WASHING MACHINE PaovmEn-wrmi FLEXIBLE SEAL,

Thomas vR. Smith, Newtomlowa, assignor'ttot The Maytag Company, Newton, Iowa,- a corporation'- of Delaware 2 Original application December 20, 1 948; Serial-No.

66,230. Divided and this application Novern- B81 17, 1950, Serial N0. 196,292 I- (o1. (is-23) 6 Claims.

This invention relates to washing machines and whileit is-not limited to any specific type, itfinds particularly good applicationtothe type in which a Washing operation is accomplishedzby. agitating the liquid and material containedtherein and in which'the tub thereafter is rotatedito extractxthe; liquid. fromthev material to effect a partial drying thereof..

This. application is a division of the? parent applicationSerial No. 66,230, filedDecembenZO, 19,48.

One. object of the. invention isv to; provide'v a; simple, durable and efficient liquid-.tight seal between the-tub assembly and an. outer: station.- ary tubwhich iseffective under .all;operating"corrditions encountered in.the..washingmachine to prevent. passage of moisture: into the driving, clutching; braking, stabilizing andother mechanisms 'located below;

Another object is to provide a: novel liquidtight seal between the tube assembly and operat=-- ing; parts located .therebelow to prevent Lthe-pasJ- sage of any moisture-to saidoperating'partst'and to-maintain a successful operative-condition under: all. circumstances:

. Theseand otherobjects are: acomplished: by means of the mechanismsland arrangements disclosedi'inrthe accompanying drawings, in which- Eigurezl is averticalxsectionalview oi awash-- ing,;machine: showing one: embodiment of my-inventionz: and .1

Figure...2 .is; an enlarged fra'gmentary vertical sectional view": of: the driving" mechanism of the 1 Washing'machine:andlshowing oneembodiment of the: liquidt-tight .seal for preventingthe passage of" moisture into. said. driving mechanism and othenp'arts;

Referring: now. more. in detail 'to the drawings,-

a .combined lwashing and drying machine made in accordance with the present invention is shown" as" generally comprising an outer cabinet 2', a"

base. structure 4 for supporting an outer tub 6" completely enclosedby the;cabinet 2; Mounted within'thei-outer. tub. 6 is a rotatable tub 8- pro videdjwitlii. an agitator or washing" device= IIl' therein; the tub 8 andiits agitator. 'ortwashing. de-

vice Iil? beingmperated: by suitable. mechanism I 2 which, together with the irmertub: and agitator :assembly, are suitably, supportedi.on;the:.basei structure? 4'. A'sa further characteristic of. the Washing machine, a control mechanism; generallyreferred to as- I4; is provided forautomatically controlling; certain operationsin the. washing.

Cycle e 2; sheet metal to provide the opposite side panels. and the" back. and. front panels" 22' and.:2.4- which may be: formed separatelyand-welded: at; thecorners to? provide: a" substantially recI',angula=i'.-'

unitary structure,- or Tone: or more ofitheseepanels mayibe formed. from'; a single iipiece: suitably; bent; and .welded, on otherwisezsecuredto; the'rema-inring panelsv to provide. theisai'd' unitary structure: The panels are formed" withrintu'rned: flanges; 26 at the .upper. edgestthereof. which are adapted: to matewithand be secured .toisimilarz'fiangesflflxof the covenortop. panel 3Il-fon'the1cabineta. This 32. whereby accessxmay; be had] tonthe interior; of

the'rotatableitub 8.. v

The opening 32 is normally closed by a'pivota'lly mounted: lid. 34' formedv with.a: base-section. 36" anda cover section.38" to: provide a cham'ber; or compartment. for" a: plurality; of? switchassem'eblies: fort-the. control mechanism I4;

The. front panel. 214-: of: the:v cabinet: is? curved transversely.*to'pleasing lines; the same beingiproevided .adjacent .the upper: marginal edge: thereof. with an opening'GB'in-Which is mounted-.apanel' B8'of translucent material such as I ucite in or. on which a trade-name onthei'lili'e'mayj be impressed or'otherwise embodied-therein;- The: trade-name or: the like is" made? more readily readable by means ofa-pi-lotlight Illmountedin the cabinet 2 to.the:rear.0f.f'the panelland in"? corporated ina controlcircuit'. The'wfront'panel 24 terminates short ofithe side panels of theca'bi+- net to provide a toespace12; The innerwa'll detfining the toespace I2 is formed or defined'ibya the finishing'strip I4 whichhas: itsf-outerzface transversely" curved on' the order of the? curva'-. ture of the front panel 24', .and.is.-removablyrse.-- cured to the base-.structure' lby; mean's tofthei ball studs 16;

The baseistructure 4 iS'Of rectangulariformation and comprisesthe horizontallyidisposedt.L,-

posed. leg or" web I20 wardly'extending web or leg I22. These sectionsare secured together by any desiredimeans, such as'welding on the like; The" base? structurea is further provided withmornerrpostsor pedestals-i I24 formed .from angle irons ofithe desired length" which are rigidly'securediin posit1on,..as*by weld'-, ing" or the like; to" the" horizontally." disposed; L--.

shaped angle irons" at. the corners of thef: base structure, and'each of which is: adapted itor pro? vide a support for'the' outer tub 6;

between and secured to the horizontal legs I20 of Extendin to penetrate the floor or foundation. These adjustable legs are provided to maintain all four supporting points of the machine in contact with the floor and at the same time to maintain the perforate tub by means of the spacing washers I18 to provide a channel which allows heavy dirt and the like to settle out below the basket so that when the tub 8 is rotated such heavy dirt and the like will be carried by the water passing through-the perforations and flowing between the basket and the outer imperforate tub over the top of the wall I62 without passing through the clothes contained within the inner tub 8. The upper portion I80 of the basket I14 is imperforate andextends upwardly and inwardly and terminates in the rolled edge I82 defining an opening I84 disposed in association with the opening 32 whereby the operator is able to gain access to the machine level. This tends to prevent any vibrations which may be set up'in the-machine frommoving or displacing the machine from its operating position. Any suitable locking means may be provided to lock the same in any adjusted position after the washing machine has been leveled.

The outer tub 6 is formed with a side wall having its lower portion I38 cylindrical in horizontal cross-section and its upper portion I40 frustoconical in shapewhich terminates in an inwardly extending flange I42 provided with an annular curved recess or groove adapted to receive a toroidal shaped sealing element I44 of resilient and compressible material, such as rubber or the like,'which fits within the recess 0r groove and is compressed against the inner surface of the top wall or cover 30 in spaced relation to the opening 32 thereof to provide a fluid-tight joint therebetween and to prevent water within the tub 6 from leaking into the chamber or compartment formed between the outer tub 6 and the cabinet 2 and into the lower part of the cabinet disposed below thesa'id' outer tub 6. The outer tub 6 is further formed with a bottom wall I46 slopinginwardly and downwardly from the side wall portion I38 for the purpose of draining liquid falling into the bottombf the outer tub tothe conical shaped drain outlet I48 depending from the bottom wall.

This bottom wall is further formed with a centrally disposed crowned portion I50 having an opening I52 therein defined by an annular upstanding flange I54 which terminates in an outwardly extending peripheral portion I56 providinga' shoulder for a purpose to be hereinafter morei'fully disclosed. The said tub 6 is also provided with an' offset portion I58 which extends upwardl into the tub to provide clearance for the motor I60 which'operates th washing machine-h The'inner tub 8 disposed within the outer tub 6' isfformed'in'two sections or parts,'the outer part having an imperforate side wall I62 and an imperforate bottom wall I64 formed with a central hub I66 in which a shaft I58 is journaled. This shaft extends above the hub portion I66 and is splined, 'as at I10, to the agitator I0 which is mounted thereon. A sealing device, generally referred. to as I12, embraces the upper end of th shaft I 60 and the hub I66 and provides a fluid-tight joint between the shaft and the in teriorof thetub 8.

Z The inner part or section of the tub 8 is in the form'of a perforate basket I14, the lower' portion of which is disposed in substantially parallel relation to the side and bottom walls I62 and I64 of the outer imperforate part of the tub 8. The inner basket is rigidly secured to the side wall I62 by'means of'a plurality of screws I16 and is held in spaced relation to the outer iniinterior of the rotatable tub 8 when the lid 34 is lifted. The upper portion I of the tub 8, by virtue of its inward inclination, serves to restrict the upward movement of clothes or other material contained within the tub 8 when the same is rotated during a drying operation. It

should be observed in passing that the upper edge of the outer imperforate part of the tub 8 does not define the liquid level in the tub. I Such level is controlled by mechanism which willbe later more fully described.

The upper imperforate portion I80 of the basket has mounted thereon a hollow toroidal shaped tubular member I36 having a body of mobile material I88 of relatively high specific gravity, which assembly serves as a balancing ring for a purpose to 'be hereinafter more fully described. Steel wool or the like may be used to dampen the movement of a fluid when used in the balancing ring. This balancing ring I86 is secured to the upper wall portion I80 by means of a plurality of clips or brackets I90 secured to said wall portion I80 by means of bolts I92 or the like. -As will be apparent, th outside diameter of the balancing ring I86 is less than the diameter tub 8 in order to position the balancing ring so as not to be engaged by wall I40 of the outer tub 6 in the event of excessive wobbling or gyratory movement of the inner tube which might otherwise cause damage thereto.

Formed as a part of the bottom wall I64 of the inner receptacle is a gear housing I94 having a cover or closure I96 provided with a downwardly extending hub or hollow supporting member I98 which embraces and is rigidly secured to the upper end of a hollow shaft 200 which extends downwardly through the opening I52 in the bottom wall I46 of the outer tub 6 and terminates in a restricted end portion 202 which provides a shoulder 204 mounted upon a radial and thrust bearing 206 which is supported by the arched supporting member I ll of the'base structure 4. The radial and thrust bearing 206 comprises an inner race ring 208 which engages shoulder 204 of the hollow shaft 200 and anouter race ring 2I0 which is supported upon a dishshaped member 2I2 substantially Z-shaped in cross-section, the lower inwardly extending annular flange 2I4 thereof engaging the outer race ring 2H) and the upper outwardly extending annular flange 2I6 of which engages and is flexibly supported by the annular resilient bushing 2I8. The resilient bushing 2I8, which may be of rubber or the like, is supported by the annular dish-shaped retaining member 220 which extends downwardly through opening II9 of the channel shaped member Ill. The member 220 is provided with a lower inwardly disposed annular flange 222 upon which the bushing 2I8 is mounted and an upper outwardly extending annular flange 224 which overlaps the of the inner arr-05,628;

central ..web of the channel shaped" member; I I1 and is rigidly secured thereto in? anycdesiredi.

mannen- Leakage between i. the ,outer; hollow" shaft 200 and the;outer:tub;6: is prevented by.-'means;.of:'a seal. or: boot 226' of resilient and: flexible ma-..

teriahsuch as rubber or the like; whichhas. an.

enlarged: lower: marginal edge; 228. adapted to snap .over. and: engage the annular shoulder formed". by' the: outwardly extending: marginal portionnlfi' of flange I54 formed as apart of the bottom wall l46:of the tubxfi; The upperend of the seal 226 is provided with aninwardlyexgtending flange portion 23D having a friction-face:

whichbears'against the lower endof the supporting hub l 98,- the.' said flange being, provided withiaw facing of nylon fabric or .thelike .which is ing 240. which align theinner shaft with. respect.

to. the. hollow shaft and-permit the inner shaft to rotate relativethereto. Splinedto the. upper end .of the inner shaft 236 isa .drive pinion .242 which is .fixed thereonby means. of thespring retaining ring 244, the said pinion 242- being supporteduponthewasher 246 whichis mounted upon thebearing 238 and the outer shaft200,

whereby the drive shaft'236 is mountedinoperative association with and is supported. by the outershaft 200; The pinion 2421 is. operatively connectedto the. agitator. ID for giving it an oscillatory movement for washingpurposes as fully described in the parent application.

The agitator ID, as hereinbefore described; has.

its central hub 210'splined tothe upper end'of shaft I68. The agitator isfurther formed with a center post 2l2'and a base or body portion 214 extending downwardly. and outwardlyfrom the center post. One or more blades216 which extend'upwardly and outwardly from the .baseportion 214. may beprovided which, when the .agi

tator is oscillated,. effect a washing operation.

within the inner tub 8: The central post' or pedestal 212 extendsupwardly from the base 214and is formediwith an innerchamber. or compartment 218 which communicateswith the interior of the tub S'through one ormoreopenings 280. As" shown in the illustrated embodimentiof the invention inFigure '1 ofthe'drawings, a float'282 is slidably mounted within the chamber 218' and is adapted-to bemoved in accordancewith-the liquid level within the'inner tub 8-forgoperating;

certain control. mechanisms.

The drive shaft-2361s rotated for-oscillating the agitator I 3 andfor rotating" the' inner-tub 8; as will "be presently described; bymeansof the motor" I 60; The motor drives the belt 236 'whichpa'sses around" and is received within the. V-shaped groove 2330f", thedrive pulley 300.: The motor" l 63 not "only'furnishes powerfor-actuating 'the ag itator l6; but also for. spinning -the'inner tub 8' for-extracting liquid from the washed; clothes.

Inasmuch-as the delivered'torqueof this motor isiless thanthe starting. torque forrotating the;

innertub. 8, it' is desirable to provide a clutch,

mechanismadaptedto slip during the time when themotor is bringing the inner tub 8 up to operating speed, but in which no slipping is requiredafter" the operating speed of the inner tub 8 is reached. The clutch in question is covered in another application and is fully disclosed in the parent application. However it may bestated that the clutch comprises the pulley 300 which is driven by the belt 296 and which will transmit torque'to the inner shaft 236 until the load on said shaft exceeds the maximum torque for which 1 the-clutch is designed. The pulley 306 is provided with ahub 3| 6 having a bearing or bushing 3l8" mounted therein which is rotatably mounted on ahub324vof-the driven member 322. This pulley'is formed with th downwardly extending and'integral cylindrical wall 320'provided with an inner-face forming a friction driving surface for the slip clutch. The driven member of the clutch includesa clutch drum 322 having the hub 324 thereof splined, as at 326, to the lower end of shaft236, the drum being held in operative position on the shaft 236 by the spring retaining ring 328. Aswill be noted, the clutch drum 322 has a washer329 embracing the central hub 324 thereof upon which the hub 3l6 and its bushing 3!!! is mounted for positioning the pulley 303 with re-- spectto the driven member. The clutch drum 322 is provided with an integrally formed upstanding Wall 333 disposed inwardly of and in spaced relation to the cylindrical wall 326 of the pulley 300;. the said wall having an opening 332'provided thereim Disposed-between the cylindrical walls 3203and. 336 and supported upon the annular flange 334 of the drum is disposed aclutch band 338 to which is secured a clutch band lining 336 adapted to frictionally engage the inner surface orlthecylindrical wall 320. Mounted upon the clutch drum 322 is a curved control spring 340 provided Swith radially extending ends 342 and 344 which'yextend through the opening 332- 'and'are connected-to the ends-of the clutch band 336. As 7 Willi-be. apparent, the spring 346 actsto' expand the clutch band-336. whereby the clutch band 1ining: 338: lSTmOVGd'lIItO driving relation with the inner'surface of the wall 320. All of the driving torque from the -pulley 360 is transmitted by frictiomthrough the clutch band lining to the clutch band: 336". and then to the clutch drum 322 through the spring 1346 which hasits ends 342and 344 connected thereto;

As the pulley 300 isr'otated, th friction between th'e-inner'face' of the wall 320 and. the

' clutch band,lining 338--causes the clutch band 336. which carries a the control spring 340 .torotate a short distance until one endof the control springqcontactsone edge of the wall 330 de-- fining the openingj332, the edge of the wall 330 engaged by the control spring. depending, of course, upon the direction of rotation of the pulley 333. The clutch drum 3221is then caused to rotateand drives the-shaft 233. vWhen thetorque requiredto rotate the shaft 236- exceeds the loading: of rthespring346. slippage occurs between the pulley 3.6!). and thez clutch drum 322'. This slippageoccurs until such time as the torque-re quired torotate the shaft 233 is equal to or less than the torque being transmitted between the pulley 3313 and the clutch drum 322 through the lining 338. This clutch construction provides for the delivery of constant torque to the shaft 236 which cannot be exceeded, whereby the shaft 236 can be'brought'gradually up to speed for th spinning operation without causing damage to the motor I60 because of excessive loads during the starting period. After the inner tub 8 has been brought up to speed, the torque required to maintain this speed is less than the rated capacity of the motor and, accordingly, no slippage takes place between the pulley 306 and th clutch drum 322.

As will be apparent from the above description, the combined radial and thrust bearing 206 mounted on the reduced portion 282 of the outer shaft 203 and engaging the annular shoulder 264 thereof not only supports the receptacle 8 and associated mechanisms but also provides a support for the inner shaft 236 through the thrust bearing 246 and, accordingly, such radial and thrust bearing positions and supports the pulley 360 and the constant torque slipclutch immediately above described which effects a driving connection between said pulley 300 and the shaft 236.

It is to be noted that as the receptacle 8 is moved laterally, as it will under certain conditions of operation presently to be described, the same will tilt about the bearing 266 and that the said bearing constitutes the sole support for the receptacle and the agitating mechanism as well as other mechanisms to be hereinafter more fully described. Furthermore, the pulley 309 is dishshaped so that the center line of the groove 298 passes through the pivot point of the bearing 206 in order to minimize deflection of the drivin belt 296 at all times.

As previously referred to in a general way, the present invention contemplates a structure in which material Within the receptacle 8 is subjected to a washing operation through the action of the agitator I and also subjected to a centrifuging action whereby the said material is spin dried upon rotation of the tub 8. In order to rapidly rotate the inner tub 8 suitable clutch mechanism is provided for effecting a driving relation between the inner shaft 236' and the outer shaft 206. In the illustrative embodiment of the invention such clutch mechanism takes the form of a spring clutch including an expanding type'tapered spring clutch element 346 embracing the shaft 236 and being dispose-d within the enlarged hollow portion 348 of the outer hollow shaft 206. The lower end of the spring clutch element 346 is operatively connected to the shaft 236 and a pin 350 is provided to prevent axial movement of the spring. The upper actuating end of the spring clutch element is arranged to be engaged by a key 352 mounted within the clutch collar 354. During the period when the agitator I0 is being operated, the clutch collar 354 is held in an elevated position by means of bell crank lever 356 whereby the key 352 is disengaged from the upper operating end of the spring clutch element 346. When the bell crank lever 356 is tripped; the clutch collar 354 moves downwardly under the action of gravity to posi-' tion the key 352 in the path of movement of the upper operating end of spring clutch element 346 whereby the said spring clutch element is expanded to frictionally engage the wall of enlarged recess 348 of the outer hollow shaft 200 at which time a driving connection is effected between the shafts 200 and 236 to rapidly rotate the inner tub 8.

The bell crank lever 356 is pivoted, as at 358, to a bracket 360 connected by any suitable means, to a hollow sleeve 319 constituting a part of the damper mechanism 234 to which is secured a brake shoe support 364 forming an element of.

brake mechanism 365, to be hereinafter, more fully described. V

The clutch mechanism requires a minimumof space in the device and the assembly for the clutch operatingmeans is such as to permit the same to be rapidly and easily assembled and disassembled. The key '352 is of T-formation and has its operating shank or extension movably mounted within the key-hole slot 366, the said key being restrained from turning movement within the lower part of the slot 366', but the opening 368 is of such size as to permit the key 352 to'be turned at to'its normal operating position' The clutch collar 354 is provided with an'opening having a lateral dimension adapted to p e'rmit radial movement of the extensions 316 and 318 'of the key 352 withrespect tothe collar 354 when the shank or extension thereof is disposedwithin the opening 368 at 90 to its normal operative position. The opening 310 is defined at its upper'and lower edges by the under-cut grooves 312 and 314 which are adapted to receive the extensions 316 and 318, respectively, of the key to prevent lateral'radial movement of the key 352 with respect to 'the shaft 200. It is therefore apparent that when the opening 316 is aligned with the opening 369 the key 352 may be disposed at 90 from its normal operative position and either removed from or inserted into its engaging relation with the clutch collar 354. As will be noted, the damper mechanism 234 is provided with a hollow sleeve 319 which surrounds and embraces the outer shaft, 200 and has the upper and lower journal bearings 384 and 386 mounted co-axially with and journaled on the hollow shaft 200 and providing an annular. space therebetween within which the collar 354. is axially movable. This hollow sleeve 319 is provided with an opening 380 which may be aligned with the openings 363 and 310 whereby the key 352 may be readily inserted into or removed from its assembled position with respect to the collar 354; Threadedly mounted in the hollow sleeve 319 is'a-screw 382 projecting inwardly into the path of movement of the clutch collar 354 to prevent upward movement thereof to such an extent that the shank of the key 352 enters the opening 368, but which is withdrawn sufficiently to permit the collar 354 to be moved upwardly a sufficient amount to bring the openings 368, 310 and 380 into alignment when it is desired to insert or remove the key 352. As shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the upper journal bearing 384 provides a shoulder against which the lower end of the coil spring 232 for the seal 226 abuts.

The hollow sleeve 319 is formed with an outwardly extending spherical shaped wall 388, reinforced by the oppositely disposed webs 390, and to the upper surface of which friction material 394 is connected in any suitable manner which frictionally engages 0r mates with a complementary spherical surface formed on the under side of the central crowned portion i 50 of the outer tub 6.

The brake shoe support 364, heretofore referred to. generally, is formed with ahub 396 mounted onthe lower end of the hollow sleeve 319 the said support being connected by a plurality of bolts 398 in fixed relation to said hollow sleeve. The webs 390, of which four are shown in the present embodiment, are each provided at their lower end with an aperture 400 engaged by the end of a coil spring 402. Each of these springs extends at anangle to the vertical axis of the Jsleeve 319 andhas its :opposite end mounted in "a bracket "4M rigidly. secured ;to the bottom wall I46 of the outertub 6. Due to the angular disposition of the springs 402 with respect to the vertical axis of the sleeve-3l9 and their connection tothe brake shoe support 364 and the tub '6,;a component of the spring force is applied in avertical direction to the friction material 39. ..It is also apparent that inasmuch as the springs 402 are equally loaded and the springs of each ,pair are disposed in opposite relation to one another, thespring forces acting through the hollow sleeve 319 willgtend to'returnthe tub 8 to its neutral 'or vertical position where, the Spring forces-are all equal or opposite should said tub-8 tend to movev awayfrom its-normal verticaljpositiOIL' It is further apparent that the friction 'material 394 is forced by th'eispringszinto effec- :under,eccentricloadings withinthe tub "during a-spinning operation.

When the shaft 236 is rotated freely to oscillate -the agitator II], at which time-the key 352 is dis- ,;engagedfrorn the spring clutch element 346, the I outer shaft 200 and the tub assembly connected thereto is held against rotation by the'friction brake 365. As previously indicated, this friction brake mechanism incorporates the brake shoe s pport 364 having the brake shoes 406 pivoted thereto, the said brake shoes being provided with a brake lining, such as 4M, engageable with the inner cylindrical surface of the brake drum M6 having a hub M8 splined to the outer hollow shaft 208 and which has its lower end in abutting relation with the inner race ring 208 whereby the same is supported and held in operative position. For'further details of construction and operation of the brake mechanism, not specifically claimed herein, attention is called to the parent application.

Sufficient description has beenagiven in this present application to show that it is important to prevent water from leaking into the many parts of the transmission mechanism including the clutch, brake and stabilizer parts located below the water-tight seal 226 which is located in the lower part of stationary tub B through which tub considerable water passes as a result of the operation of the agitator In in washing and the spinning of the tub II] for extracting water from the washed clothes. The water-tight seal I72 mounted over the upper end of the central hub I66 in which the upper end of the vertical shaft I68 is journaled also cooperates to prevent water from entering into the power transmission mechanism therebelow.

By means of the parts and arrangements here- 'in described, the objects of the invention are accomplished.

There may be various modifications of the invention herein particularly described and it is my intention to cover all such modiflcationscoming within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a washing machine, the combination of .-2. In-a :washingimachine,

anlinner rotatable "tubadapted to receive liquid and material toibe washed therein, 5 a vertically disposedv shouldered operating, shaft ,means for rotating saidotub an outer stationary tub having a shouldered flange defining" a centrally disposed opening in the bottomwall-thereof through which said shaft means.extends,'a flexible seal engaging the stationary: shoulder of said flange at onecend and having frictional bearing relation with; the .shoulder l of said "rotating shaft J means at its other end" to .provide :a liquid-tight joint between said shaft means and said ibOttOm wall, 1 and spring means for holding said other endinfrictional bearing relation with the shoulder of said rotatin shaft'means. i I

the combin-ation of an inner 'rotatablertub adapted to receive liquid and material to be wa'shedtherein, a washing-dei'vice disposed within said tub, means including .:.an inner: shaftifor: operating said washing device .to effect I a washing operationfiwithin said tub, ,means'includinganoutershaft for rotating said atub iito extract liquid: from :material contained :therein, an outer stationary tub having: a: shouldered flange xdeflning a centrally disposed opening in .zthe bottom :wall thereof through which :said shafts'iextend; saidrmeans for operating said :washing device iincluding 'rmechanism associated with the bottom wall of said inner tub, 'acasing for said imechanism T including-a supporting hub secured to said .outer.-shaft, a flexible seal engaging the stationary shoulder of said flange at one end and":having frictional bearing relation with -:'s'a'id supportingijhubat its=other 'endto provide a liquid-tight joint between said outer shaft and the bottom wall of said outer stationary tub, and spring means for holding said other end in frictional bearing relation with said supporting hub.

3. In a washing machine, the combination of an inner rotatable tub adapted to receive liquid and material to be washed therein, a washing device disposed within aid tub, means including an inner shaft for operating aid washing device to efiect a washing operation within said tub, means including an outer shaft for rotating said tub to extract liquid from material contained therein,

an outer stationary tub having a shouldered flange defining a centrally disposed opening in the bottom wall thereof through which said shafts extend, said means for operating said washing device includin mechanism associated with the bottom wall of said inner tub, a casing for said mechanism including a supporting hub secured to said outer shaft, damper means comprising a damper member embracing said outer shaft and having frictional engagement with the bottom wall of said outer stationary tub for resisting tilting movement of said inner tub, a flexible seal engaging the stationary shoulder of said flange at one end and having frictional bearing relation with said supporting hub at its other end to provide a liquid-tight joint between said outer shaft and the bottom wall of said outer stationary tub. and a coil spring disposed between said other end of said seal and said damper member for holding said other end in frictional bearing relation with said supporting hub.

i. In a washing machine, the combination of an inner rotatable tub adapted to receive liquid and material to be washed therein, a Washingdevice disposed within said tub, means including an inner shaft for operating said washing device to effect a washing operation within said tub, means including an outer shaft for rotating said tub to extract liquid from material contained therein, an outer stationary tub having a central- 1y disposed opening in the bottom wall thereof through which said shafts extend, said means for operating said washing device including mechanism associated with the bottom wall of the inner tub, a casing for said mechanism including a supporting hub secured to said outer shaft, a flexible seal for covering said centrally disposed opening and having friction bearing relation with said supporting hub to provide a liquid-tight seal between said outer shaft and said bottom wall, and means for maintaining said flexible seal in operative position.

5. In a'washing machine, the combination of an inner rotatable tub adapted to receive liquid and material to be washed therein, a washing device disposed ,within aid tub, means including an inner shaft for operating said washing device to effect a washing operation within said tub, means including an outer shaft for rotating said tub to extract liquid from thejmaterial contained therein, an outer stationary tub having a centrally disposed opening in the bottom wall thereof through which said shafts extend, said means for operating said washing .device including mechanism associated with the bottom wall of the inner, tub, a casin for said mechanism including a supporting hub secured to the outer shaft, damper means comprising a damper member embracing aid outer shaft and having frictional engagement with the bottom wall of said outer stationary tub forresisting tilting movement of said inner tub, a flexible seal covering said centrally disposed opening and having frictional bearing relation with said supporting hub to provide a liquid-tight seal between said outer shaft and the bottom wall of said outer tub, and means located between onerend of saidseal and said damper member for maintaining the frictional bearing relation with said supporting hub.

6. In a washing machine, the combination of I a rotatable tub adapted to receive liquid and material to be washed therein, vertically disposed shaft means for'rotating said tub, means for supporting said vertically disposed shaft means only at its lower end whereby it is subjectto agyratory motion, an outer stationary tub having a centrally disposed opening in its bottom wall through which said shaft means extends, and a flexible seal covering said opening and operatively associated with said shaft means to' provide a liquid-tight seal between said shaft means and said bottom wall whether or not said shaft means is gyrating.

THOMAS R. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Emmert et al. Dec. 12, 1950 

